Middle School Paraeducator

Assabet Valley Collaborative•Marlborough, MA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

Assabet Valley Collaborative’s Orchard Street Academy is a small public therapeutic school serving grades 6–12. The Middle School Paraeducator provides dedicated 1:1 support to a middle school student throughout the school day, helping with instruction, activities, learning plans, transitions, and emotional regulation. The role also supports other middle school students and the broader program as needed, including community-based activities, crisis response, and coverage for teachers or clinicians. The position calls for a flexible, reflective, collaborative team member who supports educational equity and can work both independently and with colleagues. The schedule is 185 school days, with program hours from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Summer work is available but not required. This is an active role involving frequent physical movement; staff receive training in physical intervention under AVC’s restraint protocol, policy, and applicable regulations.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to collaborate with others and plan for effective outcomes.
Demonstrated commitment to educational equity.
Ability to thrive within a team and work independently.
Ability to support students in developing problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to provide and receive feedback and engage in honest, authentic conversations with peers and staff.
Flexibility and versatility to support different components of the school community.
Ability to identify problems and opportunities and take initiative to find a path forward.
Reflective learning approach, including self-awareness and willingness to refine skills.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Post-secondary learning through college, work, military, or specialized training.
Experience working in schools, nonprofits, or human service organizations.
Bilingual or multilingual.

Responsibilities

Provide dedicated 1:1 support to a middle school student during instruction and activities throughout the school day.
Partner with the student and colleagues to implement and collect data on learning plans, including IEP and behavior plans.
Monitor, supervise, and assist the student in classes, transitions, bathroom escorts, meals, arrival, and dismissal.
Support the student with calming, coping, and de-escalation when upset, frustrated, agitated, escalated, or dysregulated.
Accompany and support the student during community-based activities, including field trips, gym, and recreational activities.
At times, support instruction and activities across the broader middle school program.
Monitor, supervise, and assist other middle school students in classes, transitions, meals, arrival, and dismissal as needed.
Support other students with calming, coping, and de-escalation as needed.
Provide crisis response or physical intervention with colleagues when needed.
Drive AVC vehicles when required to transport students to community-based events.
Substitute for teachers or clinicians as needed.
Complete necessary documentation.
Participate in and engage with professional development and community events.
Comply with collaborative-wide policies and procedures.
Perform other assigned duties and responsibilities.

Benefits

Competitive compensation within the public school employees sector.
Hourly pay range of $22 to $37.
10 sick days and 3 personal days per year.
$1,200 tuition reimbursement.
$1,500 paraeducator stipend, usable flexibly for tuition, cash, insurance, or other purposes.
Additional compensation available for summer school service.
AVC covers 75% of health insurance premiums for the High Deductible Health Plan.
Health Savings Account with AVC contributing 50% of the deductible.
Participation in Massachusetts state pension systems.
Voluntary life, short-term, and long-term insurance.
Voluntary dental insurance.